Jonathan Budd, a serial entrepreneur linked to multiple failed ventures, now leads Powur, a referral network promoting SolarCity solar installations. This operation, like his previous schemes, shows characteristics commonly associated with multi-level marketing, with a strong emphasis on recruitment rather than direct product sales.
Budd's business history includes the 2013 launch of Rippln, a mobile app recruitment program. Rippln collapsed by early 2014, failing to deliver on its promise to "shift billions in wealth" to participants. Before Rippln, Budd promoted SMS Dailys. His 2014 follow-up, MyStand, also disappeared without explanation, its website remaining under an "under construction" banner for years.
Powur maintains a secretive operational structure. Its website offers no public details about company ownership or management beyond Jonathan Budd's self-identified role as "Founder and CEO at Powur PBC." Access to the network requires an "invite code," effectively creating a private, referral-only system. The only promotional video available features Budd himself, but provides no further corporate transparency.
Budd has made significant, unproven claims regarding Powur's potential. In a September 2020 Facebook post, he stated he had been working "underground" for 22 months on a project "bigger than billion dollars" – "TRILLIONS," he wrote. He promised to reveal full details "in just a few days," but these specifics never materialized publicly. This type of grandiose claim mirrors the speculative promises made in his past ventures.
The actual product promoted by Powur consists of solar installations from SolarCity, a legitimate energy services provider based in San Mateo, California. SolarCity's business involves designing, financing, and installing residential solar systems. The company operates in 20 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., covering approximately 70 percent of the nation's population. As of 2014, SolarCity employed over 9,000 individuals.
Powur's marketing materials attempt to associate the venture with high-profile figures. They claim a partnership with SolarCity co-founder Elon Musk, suggesting this collaboration will "shift billions in wealth to the new #Grid Builders." This name-dropping aims to lend credibility and urgency to the opportunity, often encouraging individuals to invest without thoroughly scrutinizing the business model.
Powur does not provide specific pricing for SolarCity installations. Those costs vary widely based on individual property size, location, and energy requirements. Instead, the core of Powur's pitch centers on earning commissions through recruiting others into the network. Participants are encouraged to sell "slots" to new recruits who then aim to build their own downlines, rather than directly selling solar panels. This structure means profits often depend on continuous recruitment rather than the sale of a tangible product.
The recurring pattern from Budd's prior ventures is evident. He launches schemes with charismatic leadership and vague promises of substantial wealth. Access often relies on personal connections. A real product might exist, but the emphasis quickly shifts to the recruitment mechanism. Rippln's promise of mobile app integration and wealth redistribution proved empty. MyStand vanished without public explanation. Now, Powur asks people to trust Budd with their time and money, relying on claims of immense, future wealth.
This operational model suggests Powur functions primarily as a multi-level recruitment network, using solar energy as a veneer. Consumers considering involvement should research the history of similar schemes and understand the risks associated with income based predominantly on recruiting new participants. The Federal Trade Commission offers resources on identifying pyramid schemes at consumer.ftc.gov.